Reef Diaries: 56G Reef Savvy

[ReeferEric]

Had to seal some pictures of corals off my SPS thread lol

A few pictures for tonight:

Love this Garf Bonsai! Growth is so nice

Darin's Bonsai

ROBA Digi - I am so impressed with the growth!

Fragged this ORA Miami Orchid so many times, the new growth on the cut areas are so nice and incredible!

No more space? No problem... for now. lol

 

[rovster]

Nice work! Great idea with the hybrid. I would have loved something like that, but its hard to make it look non-ghetto without a canopy

 

[ReeferEric]

Nice work! Great idea with the hybrid. I would have loved something like that, but its hard to make it look non-ghetto without a canopy

You calling it ghetto?!

 

[ReeferEric]

Finished the light set up, will update tonight. Now how to mount them or do I want to hang is the question.

Few notable things I need to finish up on:

1) DJ Power Strip
2) Mount EB8 under the tank/sump area
3) Move the tank into place and finish gluing the PVC before wet testing
4) Design an electrical board and mount it on the wall
5) Mount and set up the Apex

I'm sure there's a lot more to do but that alone should keep me busy for a while.

 

[rovster]

You calling it ghetto?!

Well, looks unfinished. Perfect for the garage. Not perfect for the wife to look at, LOL! I would do a floating canopy if it were in my house, and believe me, if I don't see awesome results with my Radion Pros, I'm doing exactly what you did. To hang them, I would consider putting some eyelets on there and either build a light hanger or suspend from the ceiling.

 

[KoleTang]

Excellent tank Eric.

Maybe I missed it, but have you posted info on your bulb combo? What is your Alk, N03, P04? What did you use for phosphate control before the scrubber?

 

[ReeferEric]

Well, looks unfinished. Perfect for the garage. Not perfect for the wife to look at, LOL! I would do a floating canopy if it were in my house, and believe me, if I don't see awesome results with my Radion Pros, I'm doing exactly what you did. To hang them, I would consider putting some eyelets on there and either build a light hanger or suspend from the ceiling.

Making it professional is easy work. I already have it made up in my mind and will probably follow though later on. Only words you need to know is smoked acrylic. More then likely I will be hanging the light rack like below:

The whole rack weighs less then 20lbs, so I don't think 1" conduit will have an issue with support. Just need to make sure I mount the leg properly and so it does go wild.

Excellent tank Eric.

Maybe I missed it, but have you posted info on your bulb combo? What is your Alk, N03, P04? What did you use for phosphate control before the scrubber?

Hey Lucas,

No3 & Po4 I stopped testing for but will again. After consistent test for Po4 at zero, I gave up on it and sold it. This tank is not on a scrubber, it's on bio-pellets currently but that might change later on. I have never really tried to control phosphates before and when I did, I had used Rowaphos and didn't like the results too much.

Parameters I like to keep are:
Alkalinity: 8.6
Calcium: 450
Magnesium: 1450-1500

Bulb combination for the ATI Powermodule consist of:

ATI Blues Plus
ATI Blues Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blues Plus
ATI Blues Plus

 

[ReeferEric]

Quick update! I managed to wire up the T5s and more or less set up the lights. They look awesome, I can't wait to get these up and check the par.

Too cheap and lazy to go find 18 awg, so I ended up using 18 awg strained and tinned them so it would be easier to push into the quick connect on the ballast.

Medusa at work:

RESULTS!

 

[ReeferEric]

A few top downs for those who want to see more then just some lights. :wink:

More of my favorite! ORA Miami Orchid

Strawberry Shortcake doing better

Setosa

Cinnamon Polyp, hard to capture the green rim

Got this from AP Frags, just lovely!

Miami Hurricane Chalice

One of my FAVORITE chalices!

 

[skinz78]

Sweet looking build! How bout a FTS update?

 

[ReeferEric]

Sweet looking build! How bout a FTS update?

I'll have to remember to get one tomorrow when I do the tank maintenance. Short update coming up! Got a few minor things done tonight since I slept in all afternoon. Between helping Joshporksandwich and being called to work, it's tiring but I work on the tank because I love it and take my time. Woot!

 

[ReeferEric]

Finished the light set up, will update tonight. Now how to mount them or do I want to hang is the question.

Few notable things I need to finish up on:

1) DJ Power Strip DONE
2) Mount EB8 under the tank/sump area DONE
3) Move the tank into place and finish gluing the PVC before wet testing
4) Design an electrical board and mount it on the wall
5) Mount and set up the Apex

I'm sure there's a lot more to do but that alone should keep me busy for a while.

Got some stuff done today or rather tonight!

DJ Power Strip mounted, ingenius way of mounting if you ask me. I had some left over scrap aluminum so I used it to my advantage.

Custom made brackets, had to cut notches into it so that it wouldn't hit the welds on the stand itself.

DJ Power strip mounted! No gaps on the top and everything fits perfectly. Gotta love self tapping screws!

Apex EB8 mounted under the stand:

Bottom wood panel coming off to be painted black. I was just going to clear it and be done but I had black sitting around and the GF said black.

One coat, will be doing another tomorrow. Painted the sides and part of the bottom so water HOPEFULLY can't get into the wood causing it to warp. Top panel will be started tomorrow.

Messing around with my frag racks:

Getting some stuff ready. Reef Octopus calcium reactor with media in it. Currently running it with RO/DI and vinegar to clean the media and reactor. Will probably empty it and run clean RO/DI to cleanse it till its ready to use tomorrow.

 

[rovster]

Smoked acrylic, you have my attention sir. I'm impressed so far:bounce:

 

[ReeferEric]

Smoked acrylic, you have my attention sir. I'm impressed so far:bounce:

It's a basic frame/skin, I'll have Matt aka Mr.X order and assemble it. Basic frame but the corners will have a triangle tab so that will hold it on the fixture. I'm assuming 4-5 inches to cover the bulbs. Top and bottom will be open, with the lights on it should have a see through effect. I should just quit my job and do builds. LOL

 

[ReeferEric]

Got more stuff done today, I love working on this build! Did water changes to my two tanks.

This is what came off the algae scrubber being used on the frag tank with no skimmer:
Nice thick mat forming

Will be running two of these bad boys on the new set up.

Tank and foam off, screws taken out to paint the sides and about an inch or so on top and bottom of the top panel. Hoping it keeps most of the water out so it doesn't warp.

Second coat of paint on the bottom panel:

Reassembled, looks so nice now!

For once the GF was right about painting something black

 

[skinz78]

Nice update! Just curious can you tell me how you built your algae scrubber?

 

[ReeferEric]

Nice update! Just curious can you tell me how you built your algae scrubber?

I'll be building a few coming soon, I'll take pictures and do a step by step on here. Just keep checking in but it will or should be done within the next week or two. LOL

 

[Afishionado]

Man, Eric. Didn't know that you were so handy!!

Envy your skills brother.

 

[ReeferEric]

Man, Eric. Didn't know that you were so handy!!

Envy your skills brother.

Something tells me I can be a jeweler as well too. :tongue:

I'm just more of a hands on person and can learn quick.

OMG, I have phosphates!!!

Some of you might know the store with me and these Hanna checkers. My old one kept reading ZERO, I gave up and sold it. Just got this one recent and for the first time in months I have an actual reading! Time to work on keeping them lower so my SPS can color up. I'll have to update more in a little, need to file the taxes. :wink:

 

[ReeferEric]

Just fragged a big piece of this for a friend, can't wait to see it grow in his tank. Mine just keeps growing like weed. lol

Still encrusting, colors are getting better

Few partial tank shots: